I hope you will consider being part of the creative team for this show.We are meeting more frequently now that we are closer to production -generally on the first Monday and the third Thursday of each month. Thisway people who can't make Thursday nights as a general rule (or Mondaynights) will be able to come to at least one meeting a month.

At the last meeting Bill Hastings did more test taping - interviewsregarding environmental issues (with Rob Freudenberg and David Schimmel)and the dearth of media coverage of the health impacts of the HomelandSecurity and Patriot Acts (with Don Schmall and myself).

On Monday we will review this footage and we will also discuss,brainstorm and get into more detail about each person's segmentproposal, so please bring (or email) an outline, script or list ofinterview questions for your segment. We are planning on continuing ourpreliminary test taping as well - be prepared!

I hope to see you there (or hear from you by email). Below are thedetails.

Take care,Rick

ARTS/MEDIA GROUP NEXT MEETING MEDIA ISSUES TV SHOWDATE: Monday December 2, 2002TIME: 7:00PM-9:30PMLOCATION: 20 West 84th Street 10th Floor PH, just west of Central ParkWest in ManhattanCONTACTS: Mirtille Romegialli: 212 580-9577, Rick Ulfik:212 867-0846Please RSVP to Mirtille or Rick if you are coming to the meeting.

Please join us or email Rick Ulfik if you have an idea for a 3-5 minutesegment that you would like to produce for the show. You don't have tobe in NY to do this!: RickUlfik@WeTheWorld.org.

To join the Arts/Media email list that has been set up, go to this link:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/artsandmediataskforce

Show Producer: Rick Ulfik

3-5 Minute Segments Currently in Production (with tentative workingtitles):

Making a Difference through the Arts (featuring people who are usingtheir artistic talents to better the world)Meredith Manna Rob Freudenberg Vince Anzelone

Media Messages Matter Most (how the major media create powerful norms inour society - some of which can be hazardous to your health!)Rick Ulfik David Twomey

TV SHOW OVERVIEWThis show will focus on media issues and the impact of the arts andmedia on society as transmitters of cultural values and norms. It willutilize energy, support and content from many media groups, activists,and people in the arts. We will showcase groups like Fairness andAccuracy In Reporting, the Independent Media Center Network,MediaRights, MediaTank, and MediaChannel.org and it's many affiliategroups. We will also feature people who are using their artistic skillsto create a caring, just and sustainable world.

OTHER POSSIBLE SEGMENT TOPICS

Behind The Headlines - Connecting the Dots (revealing aspects of majornews stories not covered by the media)

The Media Literacy Movement

Understanding How Arts And Media Act As Transmitters Of Cultural ValuesAnd Norms, some of which are destructive such as:1) the idea that we're living in a dangerous world and we should usewhatever means necessary to protect ourselves as much as possible,2) pursuing a consumerist vision of happiness (aka the "American Dream")which doesn't consider the negative effects on our environment, labor,human rights, etc3) the "common sense" of looking out for number one without concernabout the consequences for others,4) the importance and inevitability of corporations expanding globalmarkets,5) there are only two sides to every issue,6) politicians and others always have ulterior motives for personal gainthat override consideration of the well-being of society,7) people never participate in collective action for the benefit of allsociety (only for particular special interest groups).

Media Consolidation

The Digital Spectrum Giveaway

Corporate And Self-Censorship In The Media

Entertainment And The De-Politization Of America (And The World)

Corporate Ownership Of The Media Skews the Vision and Goals of the MediaAway From Common Public Concerns and Toward Special Profit Interests ofPrivate Corporations

Violence in the Media

Media and Arts Activism, Upcoming Events

Expanding Independent and Alternative Media

Airing Film Shorts and Documentaries

Role of the Arts in Social Change Movements

Radio Concerns And Activism: Getting WEVD back on the air, the latestwith Pacifica/WBAI, Low-Power/Community Radio Issues, Talk Radio'sImpact On Politics, etc.

Taking Back Public Space From Corporate Advertising

Branding, Ads And Consumerism

How Media Spin Sells Public Policy

How Corporate Media Are Used To "Manufacture Consent" For War, BuildingPrisons, Stiff Sentencing, Rollbacks Of Civil Liberties, Etc.

We seek to raise the awareness of those who produce, distribute and/orappreciate the arts and media about the impact they have on society atlarge.

We believe that:

1) life-affirming media and artistic creations can influence peoplepositively, and

2) people are yearning on some level for meaningful connection toothers, which seems impaired by our prevailing cultural emphasis onmaterialism.

Our vision, therefore, is to increase the role of media and the arts astransmitters of cultural values that encourage a spirit of caring andmutual recognition as well as to challenge the dominance of materialself-interest that marginalizes this important cultural role of mediaand the arts.